Seal for steam-radiators.



Patented October 13, 1903;

' PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES L. JUDGE, or MINNEAPOLI S, MINNESOTA- SEAL FoRSSTE'AYM-VRADIATORS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of'Letters Patent No. 741,503, dated October13,1903. Application filed May 28, 1903. Serial No. 159,199. '(Nomodel.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, JAMES L. JUDGE, acitizen of the United States,residing at Minneapolis, in the county of Hennepin and State ofMinnesota, (Whose post-office address is No.

2645 Third avenue south, Minneapolis, Min

nesot'a,) have invented a new and useful Improvement in Seals forSteam-Radiators, of which the following is aspecitication.

My invention relates to improvements in steam-radiators wherein thesteam is conducted to the radiator by one pipe and the condensationthereof returned to the boiler by a separate return-pipe; and the objectof my improvement is to provide a seal in connection with the saidreturn-pipe and the ra-.

diator for the purpose of preventing steam from entering the return-pipeso as to produce pounding or snapping and to conduct the air from theradiator without the use of an air-valve or independent air-pipe foreach radiator, notwithstanding a system of radiators are connected uponthe same feed and returnpipes. I attain these objects by the mechanismshown in' the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure '1 is 'asteam-radiator with my device connected with'the return-pipe thereof.Fig. 2 is a vertical'section of a right-and-left nipple attached to theadjacent part of the radiator and which nipple contains my devices. Fig.3 is an end view of said right-andleft nipple looking from the outer endof said nipple shown in Fig. 2.

Similar numerals refer to the same parts throughout the several views.

The steam-radiator 1 has leading therefrom in the usual manner and forthe well-known purpose the return-pipe 2, said pipe being provided withthe usual cook or -valve 3. A

, right-and-left nipple 4 connects the radiator 1 with the valve 3 andreturn-pipe 2. The inner end of said nipple projects into the radiator 1beyond the walls thereof, and the inner. end of said nipple etis closed,as shown in Fig. 2. At the lower side of the inner projecting end ofsaid nipple t is an opening 5 and at the upper side of said end anopening 6, both leading from the interior of the radiator to theinterior of the nipple. At the lower side of said nipple 4, within thesame i and between the opening 5 and the outer extension of the nipple,is a shelf 7. This shelf may be provided with a small drip-opening 8. atits base. e

The operation of my seal is as follows: The steam is introduced toradiator 1 through the ordinary steam-conducting pipe 9. The air isdriven out, through the return-pipe 2. Condensation immediately occurswithin-the radiator and collects as water in the bottom thereof. Theflow of this water through the returnpipe 2 is held back and preventedby the shelf 7 ,except such small portions'as escape through the smalldrip-hole 8, while further discharge of air and the discharge of steamfrom the radiator through opening 5 is prevented by the sealing orclosing of that opening by the water in the bottom of the radiator. Thedischarge of said air continues through the opening 6} into the nippleand thence. out through the return-pipe 2. It is obvious that steam mayalso escape from the radiator through opening 6. In the meantime thewater collecting in the bottom of the radiator enters the nipple 4through opening 5, gradually rises to'the top of shelf 7, and flows offover said shelf through-the return-pipe. By means of the opening 6 thepressure upon the column of water within the-passage lead-. ing fromopening 5 to the top of shelf 7 and which is held back by the shelf7 isso far equalized with the pressure on the water in the radiator as toprevent thewater from being forced out through opening 5 over the shelf7, so as to remove the seal. In other words, a passage is formed leadingfrom the opening 5 into the return-pipe over the top of shelf 7, theinner opening of which passage is lower than the discharge end thereof,and the opening 6 leads from the radiator at a point higher than thedischarge end of said passage. Hence opening 5 is kept continuallysealed against the passage of steam while the radiator is in use, thewater is permitted to flow from the radiator as rapidly as necessary,and the steam is held back to escape through the small opening 6 only,so that snapping or pounding is impossible. Moreover, such escapingsteam being compelled to enter the nipple 4 and the return-pipe througha small opening, such as 6, is almost immediately vaporized, so that bymy seal I have the return of water and air onlyxthrough the re turn-pipe2. When the radiator is not in use, the drip-hole 8 finally lowers thewater in the bottom of the radiator to the level of that opening, so asto prevent damage from freezin The use of the air-valves on the radiatoropening into the room causes discoloration of the walls and disagreeableodors. My devices dispense with such air-valves and all independent airpipes or valves for each radiator.

A system comprising a large number of radiators may be connected upon acommon feed and return pipe, when my devices will work perfectly, asdescribed. The condensation may be returned to the boiler through thereturn-pipe, and the air may be allowed to' escape at the boiler througha single airvalve which will serve all the radiators upon the saidsystem.

It is obvious that the nippleet forms a portion of the return-pipe 2.Hence my devices may be referred to as connected directly with thereturn-pipe.

WVhat I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In combination with a steam-radiator, of the return-pipe havingapassage leading from the lower part of the radiator into the returnpipethrough the lower portion ofsaid returnpipe, and a shelf located at thelower side of the interior of the return'pipe and between said openingand the outer extension of the return-pipe, said return-pipe beingfurther provided with a separate opening leading from the radiator at apoint above said passage, substantially as specified.

2. In a steam-radiator,the combination with the radiator,of thereturn-pipe projectinginto the same, and a shelf in said return-pipe,said return-pipe having its inner end closed and having a passage fromthe lower portion of the radiator into the return-pipe and leading oversaid shelf, said passage being adapted for conducting water from theradiator into the return-pipe and being so arranged that the inneropening of said passage from the radiator is lower than the outer,discharge end of said passage in said return-pipe, and said return-pipebeing further provided with an opening leading from the radiator intothe return-pipe at a point higher than said shelf, substantially asherein set forth.

3. In connection with a steam-radiator, the combination of the radiator,the return-pipe projecting into the same,said return-pipe having itsinner end closed and provided with two openings leading from theradiator into the inner, projecting end of said return-pipe, one openingthereof being at the lower side and the other opening being at the upperside of said projecting end, and a shelf located at the lower side ofthe interior of the-return-pipe and between said first-named opening andthe outer extension of the return-pipe, said shelf being provided with adrip-hole at the base of said shelf, substantially as shown anddescribed.

JAMES L. JUDGE. Witnesses:

C. S. CAIRNS,

RUTH BERG.

